Giants kick off OTAs without WRs Nicks, Cruz

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants knew Victor Cruz wouldn't show up for the organized team activity without a contract, so his absence was expected.

The Associated Press

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Coach Tom Coughlin and the Giants knew Victor Cruz wouldn't show up for the organized team activity without a contract, so his absence was expected.

Not so with fellow receiver Hakeem Nicks.

Nicks surprised Coughlin Wednesday when he failed to show up for the team's first voluntary workout.

"I don't know," Coughlin said when asked about Nicks' status. "He should be here."

Nicks' agent, Peter Schaffer, did not immediately return an email by The Associated Press seeking comment.

Nicks had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the offseason, so it is doubtful he would have been able to participate fully in the workout anyway.

Coughlin said the Nicks' knee was not the issue. He hurt it in the second week of last season and was never 100 percent again.

"He would have some kind of limitations, I'm sure," Coughlin said. "Not right away, but that is not the reason."

With his top two receivers out, Eli Manning got a chance to throw more balls to recently signed free agent Louis Murphy and young receivers Rueben Randle and Jerrel Jernigan.

Murphy, who played with Carolina last season, was the most impressive, beating Corey Webster on a long pass that covered about 50 yards.

"We're getting everybody in there, getting them a lot of reps, getting on time with them. We're always going to get better," Manning said. "Whoever is on the field, we're going to expect them to go out there and play at a high level. So I think the more guys you have who are experienced and ready to play different positions, the better off we're going to be."